Valley / Ventura County Sports

Guarding the Backdoor

Except it seems strange to use the word "play" or "game" to refer to what Elliot Silvers does on Saturdays.

"It's like a street fight," he said. "You do whatever it takes."

Silvers is an offensive lineman for the Washington Huskies, who play at Oregon on Saturday. More specifically, he is a weakside tackle. Let his quarterback, Brock Huard, explain the significance of that position.

"He's got my backside," Huard said.

Week after week, opponents send their most talented pass rushers hurtling at Huard's backside. On Saturday, it will most likely be defensive end Terry Miller, who has four sacks for 26 yards in losses this season.

There will be hand-to-hand combat, a pitched battle for which Elliott has spent all week preparing.

Mondays are for watching game film.

"Watch the player and read his stance and see his favorite pass-rush moves," Silvers said.

A kind of chess game begins, with Silvers trying to think two moves ahead.

"Let's say the other guy likes to go upfield on you," he said. "If you took that move away, what would he try next? Would he bull rush you? Swim you?"

The preparation was never so thorough when he was an All-Southern Section lineman at Agoura High in 1995. Back then, size and strength sufficed. At 6 feet 6 and 300 pounds, Silvers has never lacked either.

"In high school, I just went out and played," he said.

Now, he spends days focusing on the task at hand. He has been known to tape a photograph of his opponent inside his locker so "there's no way I can't think about him."

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for sweat.

"We're full pads in practice," he said. "We're full go for three hours."

The guy across the line, the scout-team player, wears the jersey number of the opponent Silvers will face. He tries his best to imitate the opponent's playing style. Silvers offers suggestions.